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It seems to me police departments need to be held accountable for the tactics employed when dealing with citizens.

Had the police in the Missouri incident used the same approach as in this San Diego example there would have been no justification for shooting/killing the man wielding the knife.

The Missouri PD tactics increased the likelihood of a lethal outcome by initially confronting the suspect within feet of his location. The police needlessly placed themselves and the suspect in a dangerous situation. One that required an immediate lethal response.

On the other hand, note how the San Diego police maintained their distance, which significantly reduced the threat of injury and the need to immediately resort to lethal force. When they ultimately shot the suspect, it was a measured response, not a lethal overreaction.

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It seems to me police departments need to be held accountable for the tactics employed when dealing with citizens.

Had the police in the Missouri incident used the same approach as in this San Diego example there would have been no justification for shooting/killing the man wielding the knife.

The Missouri PD tactics increased the likelihood of a lethal outcome by initially confronting the suspect within feet of his location. The police needlessly placed themselves and the suspect in a dangerous situation. One that required an immediate lethal response.

On the other hand, note how the San Diego police maintained their distance, which significantly reduced the threat of injury and the need to immediately resort to lethal force. When they ultimately shot the suspect, it was a measured response, not a lethal overreaction.

One shot, instead of 5-7 including two while the guy is laying on the ground and his body is rolling.

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It seems to me police departments need to be held accountable for the tactics employed when dealing with citizens.

Had the police in the Missouri incident used the same approach as in this San Diego example there would have been no justification for shooting/killing the man wielding the knife.

The Missouri PD tactics increased the likelihood of a lethal outcome by initially confronting the suspect within feet of his location. The police needlessly placed themselves and the suspect in a dangerous situation. One that required an immediate lethal response.

On the other hand, note how the San Diego police maintained their distance, which significantly reduced the threat of injury and the need to immediately resort to lethal force. When they ultimately shot the suspect, it was a measured response, not a lethal overreaction.

This seems to be the common problem with our police forces across the country. Clearly the training is either insufficient, or some changes need to be made. It also doesn't help that so many of our citizens don't even question it, but seem more than willing to just accept it.

There were two posters in another thread arguing that they could "understand" why the trained CMPD officer who shot a disoriented unarmed man ten times would immediately panic with absolutely no alternative but lethal force because an unarmed man was approaching him.

It's just sad really.

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I don't know if its really a common problem. 99.9999% of all events involving police don't end up with someone being shot. Even the vast majority of calls that involve an armed suspect don't end up with someone getting shot. Given that the US has one of the most heavily armed group of citizens on earth, and one of the most drunk or stoned group of citizens, its probably a surprise that there aren't more cops shootings and more cops being shot.

Its a tragedy any time someone gets killed, but if cops as a group were truly as bad as most here seem to think, it would happen a lot more. I had a friend who was a cop before the stress got to him and he transferred to animal control. He said that in 5 years of being a cop, he only had to pull his gun out twice, and both times that was all it took. The suspect gave up. According to him, most cops have similar stories. Events such as this are exceedingly rare and thank god that they are.

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I don't know if its really a common problem. 99.9999% of all events involving police don't end up with someone being shot. Even the vast majority of calls that involve an armed suspect don't end up with someone getting shot. Given that the US has one of the most heavily armed group of citizens on earth, and one of the most drunk or stoned group of citizens, its probably a surprise that there aren't more cops shootings and more cops being shot.

Its a tragedy any time someone gets killed, but if cops as a group were truly as bad as most here seem to think, it would happen a lot more. I had a friend who was a cop before the stress got to him and he transferred to animal control. He said that in 5 years of being a cop, he only had to pull his gun out twice, and both times that was all it took. The suspect gave up. According to him, most cops have similar stories. Events such as this are exceedingly rare and thank god that they are.

So like this thread was to discuss the .00001% of Police shooting suspects.

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It seems to me police departments need to be held accountable for the tactics employed when dealing with citizens.

Had the police in the Missouri incident used the same approach as in this San Diego example there would have been no justification for shooting/killing the man wielding the knife.

The Missouri PD tactics increased the likelihood of a lethal outcome by initially confronting the suspect within feet of his location. The police needlessly placed themselves and the suspect in a dangerous situation. One that required an immediate lethal response.

On the other hand, note how the San Diego police maintained their distance, which significantly reduced the threat of injury and the need to immediately resort to lethal force. When they ultimately shot the suspect, it was a measured response, not a lethal overreaction.

Common tactic by a lot of people. I don't accept the premise that police departments are not held accountable. There is a process. Some places may follow it...some may not...but I would argue that most certainly do otherwise state police would intervene and in some cases federal authorities. There is no one tactic that's used...it's a fluid situation.